Something I Like: Paperback Swap

Ironically, this is something that I think I mentioned years ago but never tried out for myself. It took Scott Danielson's repeated, enthusiastic endorsement to get me to try it out, which I did just a few days ago.

Paperback Swap's concept is simple. It is a free network where you can find and exchange books across the country ... free.

What our Book Club is all about...

We help avid readers Swap, Trade & Exchange Books for Free.

• It's easy: List books you'd like to swap with other club members.
• Once a book is requested, mail it to the club member. 
• In return, you may choose from 4,943,576 available books!

- Books you request are mailed to you for free.
- No late fees. No hidden charges.

The only thing you pay for is the postage when you send out the books someone has requested from you. I was impressed to see that they even have a wrapper you can print out which has a complete address label that includes a postage estimate based on the weight of the book.

At this point I have evidently listed books which people have just been waiting for. In the last two days I have sent out about 11 books.

I plan on using the credits for times when Scott and I are reading a book I can't get at the library and to pick up some books I know people would like for gifts but that aren't in print any more. This is going to make honoring my book fast more difficult, but since this is the second year, I think I can handle it. We shall see!

Something I Like: RetroPets Art

Hannah was at a vet's pet event and picked up this poster for a dachshund loving pal. We were so taken by it that I investigated the RetroPets website and found a wealth of charming art, done by an artist who clearly understands the underlying characteristics for dog breeds. And cats. She also understands cats.

Anyone I knew who had a favorite breed (or who loves cats) got one of these posters. They are a standard size so it is easy to get a frame and ... voila! A delightful personalized gift. I must have given out at least ten of these. Every recipient was thrilled because the essence of their favorites was captured so well. As these few samples below will show. Be sure to check out the site.

Something I Really Like - Thirst Quenching

Pomegranate Italian Soda from Tom Thumb. It is the best substitute for the now gone Central Market Pomegranate Soda. Deliciously tart, it is better than lemonade. Mmmm ...

Something I Really Like - Around the House

The FlexGrip pen from Papermate.

I can't tell you how often Tom and I have griped because there weren't any inexpensive pens that actually worked well or felt right in our hands. The last time Rose was home she was looking for these so she could resupply. When it came up in conversation, others of Hannah's and Rose's acquaintance confirmed the FlexGrip as a treasure.

Once I found a supply at Target, I was really happy with them. They are all I ever wanted: lightweight, write without skipping (a problem for us lefties), slim, medium point, retractable, with a clip ... and cheap!

Something I Really Like: Boxers and TV

Specifically, a young male Boxer, Wash, who has just turned one year old. He is suddenly realizing that he's the "man dog" around the place and over the weekend took over guarding duties. It has been very interesting watching Zoe let him do it as she's always been the alpha-guard around here.

As to TV, Wash has always been more aware of the television than other dogs we've had. He particularly responds to dogs barking. Now that we have the 40" monster and dogs barking look life size, Wash will bound over to the television and brace himself on the console so he can bark back "in person." When the dog disappears mysteriously, he will then go looking for the interloper around the house.

It is all quite amusing watching this young 'un find his feet as a soon-to-be alpha dog.

Something I Really Like - Easy on the Eye

Otherwise known as ... a front porch full of plants!
Our front porch is more of a courtyard really. It has a brick wall which separates it from the street and our front windows provide a lovely view of the empty fountain and ... old bench ... and ... bricks.

I have meant to plant it in the way of the New Orleans courtyards. What stopped me is that I was waiting for some extra money.

After over 10 years of waiting I finally figured out there is never extra money for plants and pots so I turned to my new favorite technique: amortizing purchases.

It worked for the new TV ("if we keep this TV for 20 years, we're crazy not to make this investment!).

It worked too for these plant which I finally gave in and bought a few weeks ago. Hannah went with me and, knowing my nurturing style, would cry in triumph "No deadheading required!" or "Water weekly in case of drought conditions!" or "Easy care plant!" as she drew my attention to the various selections.

She was also careful to look for butterfly attracting plants and we have already seen a few adventurers on the porch. It turns out I have a liking for native plants ... which helps on keeping them alive.

Among our treasures:

• African Iris (this was our big ticket item)
• Herbs: Genoese basil, Thai basil, thyme, rosemary, sage (this reminds her of my mother's house and garden), cilantro
• Balloon flowers (blue)
• Coneflowers (purple) ... this smells heavenly
• Echinacea (an orangey-yellow type called Harvest Moon)
• Lobelia
• Some sort of vine-ish plant which I should be able to train to grow over the wall and will be covered with white flowers

It completely transforms the view from the living room, as you might imagine, and I am only sorry I didn't get the amortizing thing 10 years ago when we moved in.

Ah well, onward and upward!

Something I Really Like - Bookishly

Goodreads.

It's like Facebook for readers.

Here is the link to my 2010 Goodreads shelf but do poke around and explore. For one thing authors have pages there to investigate. It's free to join and the book talk can be interesting.

Speaking of Facebook, you can link your Goodreads to your Facebook account so that everyone can keep up there as well.

Something I Really Like - Personally

There is no thrill like seeing the people you love grow to be more "themselves." (If that makes sense.)

Recent examples:

• Reading the third draft of Rose's screenplay.
  This is a project from her screenwriting class that her teacher (who has sold screenplays under a pen name) feels has great potential, especially after a few more drafts.
  
  It came alive ... so very satisfying compared to draft 2. It isn't perfect, but ... wow. She's good. And I'm not just saying that because she's our own sweet Rose.
  
  
• Hannah looking at a chirping sparrow sitting in the entrance to a birdhouse and providing the translation of his chirping.
  She's a nut about animals as her Wildlife and Biology degree will attest. Birds are a special passion. I forgot that birds are actually doing some communication beyond singing until that moment.
  
  The translation? This works best if done in a sing-song ...
  "This is mine. Mine, mine, mine. This is mine. Mine, mine, mine."
  
  It makes me smile just to think of that little guy staking out his territory.
  

Something I Really Like - Fun

My narration of Mike Resnick's "The Bride of Frankenstein" is now live at Escape Pod.

This is one of their series of Hugo-nominated stories and it was a great compliment to be asked to narrate it ... and the story is a lot of fun.  It was a real treat to read it.

There's a bit of depth that Happy Catholic readers will appreciate.

To top it all off, it is guest hosted by my favorite ... Alasdair Stuart of Pseudopod

Enjoy!

(Note: contains a bit of language ... )

Something I Really Like - Easy on the Eye

Not the puppies, though they are drop-dead cute.

The TV.

Tom bought my MacBook with some of our tax refund. I realized that what he'd really have liked for his birthday was something to replace our 20-year-old television. However, we didn't have that tax refund when it was his birthday. Obviously it was necessary to rectify that oversight. Especially after I heard him going over all the specs for televisions while we were lunching with friends.

Voila!

Apex Digital LD4088 40 in. LCD TV

Key Features

• Flat Panel Type: LCD TV
• Aspect Ratio: Widescreen (16:9)
• Broadcast Format Displayed: 1080p (HDTV) 1080i (HDTV) 720p (HDTV) 480p (EDTV) 480i (SDTV)
• LCD Response Time: 7 ms
• Screen Size: 40 inch
• Contrast Ratio: 1,800:1

It also has provided him with a bonus activity ... a new hobby as he tries to find just the right way to improve the sound, which he says is worse than that of our old television. Being glued to the glorious new "pop out of the screen" vision in front of me, I have hardly noticed.

The first movies we watched on it? Monsters, Inc. and The Incredibles.

Something I Really Like* - Tasty

Truly a delicious potato chip, worth the extra money. Just enough salt, zipped (or is it zapped?) with just enough pepper on hand-made potato chips. One bag per week for the household makes sure we appreciate these savory bits.

If you have a few extra bucks, then it is worth picking up a package of their most recent limited edition.

Hoochey mama, that's a zesty chip! You can read the story behind the flavor here.

Thank you Zapp's!

*Something I really like is one of Dr. Gemma's regular segments on her podcast, which I thought I'd try to adapt as I have so much I'd like to share that I never can get to it. One bite at a time ... maybe I can do it.